Grisport Denali boots: Built for brutal country

Hunting red deer and wild dogs in rugged ridge country calls for appropriate footwear. The past few years I have been mostly hunting softer, flatter country and getting excellent service from light trail-runner style shoes. However, in the months leading up to the rut, I put in a lot of time stalking on steep and stony slopes. Ploughing through deep grass, with unseen, orange-sized rocks underfoot, posed the constant threat of a twisted ankle. When I needed to pack out a load of venison, the challenge was even greater. I managed that without mishap but along the way reached a firm conviction about returning to heavier duty hiking boots for ridge hunting. I had pretty much worn out my light trail-runners anyway and the need for new shoes was upon me.

I’m in the need for new hunting footwear every 12-18 months because, quite simply, I wear them out in that time. I live in a rural area in good hunting country. On average, I hunt five times per week over 40 weeks in the year. I would hunt more, but weather and family obligations need be considered as well. So, 200 hunts per year at an average hike of 6km means I bushwalk at least 1200km per year. And that is largely all wilderness hunting in virgin bush, as described above. My footwear is inevitably quite battered, and the waterproofing gone, after 1200km of such use.

I don’t need to wade many creeks but find the wet, dewy grass has my socks soggy and my feet cold by the end of a dawn hunt. I expected that a bonus of heavier duty leather hiking boots would be prolonged waterproofing as well.

Denstock Australia is a family-owned company that distributes a range of well-known footwear brands. They provided Australian Hunter with a pair of their Grisport Denali Mid Waterproof hiking boots. Grisport is an Italian, family-owned company and their footwear is designed and handcrafted in Italy.

The Denali hiking boots are constructed of thick, waxy cow hide for durability and water resistance. Additionally, internal construction is the Spo-Tex original waterproof lining that keeps out both water and snow. Thousands of micropores in the poromeric structure allow perspiration to escape while maintaining an effective barrier to external moisture. That ensures the wearer’s feet remain warm and dry under harsh conditions.

The soles are Vibram, found almost universally on all quality outdoors footwear, to provide exceptional grip on varying wilderness surfaces. The blend of rubber, carbon and silicone also provides flexible comfort. I do like pronounced, chunky tread on the boots I wear in rough country and the Denali certainly offer that. They have rigid nylon arch support for ensured torsion-proof assistance when hiking rough terrain. The collar and tongue of the Denali boots are lined with calf skin for improved comfort around the ankle and instep. The lacing system features speed-fastening with non-ferrous metal eyelets and hooks for quick and easy fitting and removal.

Good advice for hiking boots is to clean off mud, dust and debris after each use. With the Denali, it’s worthwhile also applying a water-proofing silicone occasionally, starting with the brand-new boots. Combined with the integral waterproofing of the boots, that will provide great protection. Saturated socks and chilled feet can really take the joy out of an early morning in the bush. I also wear leather gaiters on every bush outing because, along with snakebite protection, they prevent the lower legs of my slacks getting saturated from the dawn dew and seeping down into my otherwise waterproof boots.

The Denali have withstood extensive exploration through ridge country for dog and deer sign, along with numerous hunts. I’ve never felt so sure-footed while traversing steep, rocky ridges and wading shallow muddy creeks. Along the way I’ve ploughed through kilometres of knee-high dewy grass as well and the boots passed with flying colours.

Grisport Denali hiking boots are available from various retailers and online. As always, it pays to visit your local shop to both fit and purchase your boots. Retail pricing of Grisport Denali Mid Waterproof hiking boots is $310, which represents excellent value for European made hiking boots. These boots will keep your feet warm, dry and comfortable while confidently negotiating the harshest terrain.